{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Most hockey fans would argue that hockey is the hardest sport to play. A long, grueling 82 game season culminates in the toughest 16 game run to win a championship, with injuries being nothing but the expected price to pay." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It's not a far stretch to assume that these talented athletes could play other sports, and we know that there are cross overs from other sports when it comes to the Stars players. From Jamie Benn hitting home runs with the Texas Rangers to the players warming up with a soccer ball, the Stars are a talented group of athletes." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "So, on Super Bowl Sunday, one could only wonder what the Stars players might look like on the football field competing for the Lombardi Trophy. What positions would they play?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Here is the break down based half on hockey skills that might translate to each position and half on nothing but vibes alone:" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Offense", "level": 2 } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Quarterback: Miro Heiskanen", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Miro Heiskanen is one of the most talented players on the team and one of the clear pillars of the franchise. He is the quarterback of the power play, which makes it too easy to slot him in as the quarterback, the most important member of the team. For most games, as he goes, the team goes. Heiskanen's play will probably be most important to the Stars winning the Stanley Cup, and the same would be said about the Super Bowl." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Running back: Thomas Harley, Evgenii Dadonov", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Thomas Harley showed his ability to go coast to coast and do it all himself after getting handed the puck with his overtime goal against the Anaheim Ducks in January." } }, { "id": "xwedxdtw-qslvl2rc", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1750724602152542318", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1750724602152542318", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Harley strides like a gazelle and has a knack for scoring. Running backs are not the trendy players right now, but Harley has everyone talking with his emergence this season." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Evgenii Dadonov has blazing speed perfect for a dangerous running back that was on display recently against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dadanov's speed has been compared to being shot out of a cannon at times." } }, { "id": "4faowu66-7b2eg28c", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1755391958124474566", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1755391958124474566", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Just like a running back trying to break through a maze of defenders, Dadonov can create something out of nothing on the forecheck with his relentless style." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Wide Receiver: Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Roope Hintz has lightning speed on the ice, similar to watching Tyreek Hill on Kansas City and now Miami. Hintz is a handful for any defense to gameplan for, and no cornerback would feel comfortable lining up across the line of scrimmage from him." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Tyler Seguin has the personality made for a wide receiver. This position is notorious for having players with the loudest personality on the team, and although Seguin is no diva, he has a wide appeal off the ice that has made fans across the country. People are interested in him for more than what he does on the ice, and he is a recognizable star in the league. He is also one of the faster and more skilled players on the team, which would fit perfectly as a wide receiver." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Tight End: Jason Robertson", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Although he isn't as fast as his wide receiver teammates, Robertson is an incredibly dangerous part of the offense. He can throw a hit or block every once in a while, but he is lethal in converting his chances into scores. Just like Travis Kelce for the Chiefs, the offense often times runs through him." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Offensive-Line: Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn, Scott Wedgewood", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Matt Duchene loves to stick-handle, dangle defensemen and protect the puck as he controls possession in the offensive zone. He will protect the quarterback with just as much effort. Duchene's addition to the team has been credited to the success of linemates, Seguin and Marchment. And much like that, Duchene will be what holds the offense together to breed success." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jamie Benn would make a perfect center. He wears the 'C' on his jersey as captain, so why not make him the 'C' on the depth chart. Benn is great at winning faceoffs, and bending down over the football to start the play isn't so different than getting low for leverage to win a faceoff." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Scott Wedgewood is already used to wearing big pads and protecting the net and blocking pucks, so he should fit right in alongside the hog mollies up front protecting and blocking for the quarterback." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Defense ", "level": 2 } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Defensive-Line: Jani Hakanpaa, Wyatt Johnston", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jani Hakanpaa is a big, tall defensive player who specializes in hitting players. His skill set directly translates from the NHL right to the inside of the defensive line. He will use his 6'7\" frame to protect his quarterback at all costs." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Imagine Wyatt Johnston closing in, ready to hound you for the puck on the forecheck mere months removed from being a teenager. He would instill just as much fear chasing down the quarterback." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Edge Rusher: Jake Oettinger", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jake Oettinger is ready to sprint from a dead stop and tackle anybody in his path, the perfect quality for a dangerous pass rusher. He is the Micah Parsons of the Dallas Stars. Just look at the film:" } }, { "id": "59jxs09b-fq5l84ky", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/StarsCountdown/status/1385056681223147528", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1385056681223147528", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Line-backer: Craig Smith, Radek Faksa", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Stars head coach Pete DeBoer once said Craig Smith was like a linebacker on skates. What more do you need!" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Radek Faksa would be the linebacker with an old style neck guard causing a hump-back in his jersey. Many skaters in the NHL have tried to take a piece of Faksa on a hit and realized he seems to be made of metal. No one would want to get stood up by him in the middle of the field." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Corner: Nils Lundkvist, Joel Hanley", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Nils Lundkvist is the quintessential corner back, slightly undersized but skilled and great at breaking up passes. He can match up against players several inches taller than him and still beat them with technical skill." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Joel Hanley knows the struggle of being a cornerback. He is a favorite of any coach with his determination and effort but the tape of him getting burned is often in the front of fans' minds." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Safety: Esa Lindell, Ty Dellandrea", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Esa Lindell is a defensive specialist, and he could be trusted to be one of the last lines of defense to break up long passes. Just like a ball hawking safety with a pick-6 or two during the season, Lindell can occasionally score and often that score is crucial to winning the game." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Ty Dellandrea isn't built like Hakanpaa or Faksa but can hit and hit hard when he wants. Just like a strong safety, he can mix it up with anyone and no wide receiver could feel comfortable if Dellandrea was roaming the center of the field looking to lay somebody out." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Nickel: Sam Steel", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sam Steel could pass as a linebacker since he plays with Faksa and Smith on ice, and both of those players make up the linebacker group. But with a surname like Steel, he has to have some hands like a defensive back to steal the ball away with a few interceptions." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Special Teams", "level": 2 } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Kicker: Mason Marchment", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Mason Marchment made his case only a day before the Super Bowl with this beautiful kick forward that turned into a secondary assist against the Montreal Canadiens." } }, { "id": "twkf67et-7uq9zflm", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1756396275900002628", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1756396275900002628", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "His form looks like he could nail a 50+ yard field goal with the game on the line without breaking a sweat." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Punter: Ryan Suter", "level": 4 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Ryan Suter is great at the high flip out of his defensive zone under pressure to clear danger and allow tired skaters to get to the bench to change. Just like a punt, it's a lofted defensive play to try and push the opposition back as far as possible without icing the puck or hitting it too far for a touchback." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Coach: Joe Pavelski", "level": 2 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Joe Pavelski's on ice effect on the Stars has been extraordinary, but his off ice contributions could never be fully appreciated. Whether it is allowing his long time linemates Hintz and Robertson come into their own as stars in the NHL or being the landlord of another budding NHL star Wyatt Johnston, Pavelski is always leading by example. He is a leader and a former team captain, and every other player on the Stars would be happy to play for him." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Live footage of his teachings at work:" } }, { "id": "awl0scyc-rxijxri0", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1721727754096255280", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1721727754096255280", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "However, the Stars turned football players speculation doesn't stop at The Hockey News, Robertson has an elaborate line-up compiled of his teammates. Though, Robertson's line-up and reasoning look a bit different:" } }, { "id": "ebopkvpx-9ygw5wl8", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/DallasStars/status/1744504765122240999", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1744504765122240999", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Road Success a Key to Stars Finishing Strong Down the Stretch" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Flyers Defenseman Could be a Fit for Dallas" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Texas Stars shine at AHL All-Star Weekend" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Three Takeaways from Stars Troubling Loss to Maple Leafs" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Follow Taylor on Twitter: @THN_taylor" ] } } ] }

Super Bowl: Dallas Stars Edition